Asabke Alangdi
Asabke Alangdi, the man charged alongside Gregory Afoko for allegedly pouring acid on Adams Mahama, the then Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), leading to his death, yesterday opened his defence before an Accra High Court.
The two are before the court on two counts of conspiracy to commit crime and murder, for allegedly pouring acid on the deceased who suffered severe bodily burns and died the next day while on admission at the Bolgatanga Municipal Hospital.
Asabke yesterday opened his defence and denied the charges, telling the court that he had known the deceased for more than 20 years and considers him a father and, therefore, could not conspire to kill him.
“That is not true, my Lord. It is not true that I conspired with A1 (Afoko) to pour acid on the late Adams Mahama. He was my father and he helped me in so many things. He even helped me in building my house,” the accused told the court.
Explaining his reason for running away from Bolgatanga to Cote D’Ivoire after the gruesome murder of the late Adams Mahama, the accused told the court that it was due to calls and threat to his life he was receiving following the incident.
He said a day after the incident, he had taken one of his children to school and on his way back he received a phone call from one Baba Paya asking him whether he had heard about the death of Mr. Mahama.
“I said no and he said someone had poured acid on the late Adams Mahama. When I got there, he said everyone is saying that it is A1 (Afoko) and I who had poured acid on the late Adams Mahama, so I should be very careful,” he told the court.
He continued that he was later called by the police to report at the police station, and not long after the call, he had another call from Taufic Mutala, a witness in the case who told him (accused) they had gone to his house looking for him several times but could not find him.
“He told me on the phone that they have taken away one of my children and had burnt down my house, and also when they meet me, they will kill me,” he added.
He said he does not really know Afoko, and only get to meet him whenever there was party rally, adding that “I don’t know him from anywhere. I don’t know where he lives.”
He ended his defence and counsel for Afoko indicated that he would not cross-examine the accused. The court, presided over by Justice Efua Merley Wood, a Court of Appeal judge sitting with additional responsibilities as a High Court judge, adjourned the case to February 20, 2023, for the prosecution to cross-examine Asabke.
This is the second time Gregory Afoko is standing trial for the offence after the state entered nolle prosequi to discontinue the first trial following the arrest of Asabke, who was on the run and hiding in Abidjan in Ivory Coast.
The two have pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them by the state. A seven-member jury is hearing the matter before the court.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak